The U.S. is one of 32 nations belonging to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, or NATO. Because of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, there’s arguably never been more focus on its role of collective defense. I recently traveled to Poland, where the U.S. is taking a lead role near what could be a staging ground if Russia should do the unthinkable.

During my visit, I saw live-fire NATO exercises in northeast Poland.

It’s rare that journalists are permitted to literally be in the midst to observe.

The spot is chosen for its strategic importance, a mere 37 miles from Russia and not far from a place often called NATO’s weak spot: The Suwalki Gap in Poland. It’s a 40-mile-long stretch of land between a Russian territory and a Russian ally, Belarus. If Russia were to attack from both sides, it could separate NATO countries Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania from Poland and the rest of Europe.

“It is the only land bridge to Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia that exists,” said Lt. Col. Patrick Merriss, from Birmingham, Alabama, and commander over the NATO training exercise. “So part of our role here is to deter any adversaries from impacting that terrain.”

Even simply conducting exercises can act as a deterrence, he said.

“It’s interacting with multinational forces across NATO. It’s partnering with Polish forces. It’s all an effort to deter any adversaries,” he said. Soldiers from the UK, Croatia and Romania took part in the training, alongside U.S. soldiers.

In some respects, the Russian threat focused NATO, making it a stronger deterrent, said Col. Alex Gaiževskis, who oversees NATO battlegroups in the region. “NATO is much stronger than it was earlier,” he said.

NATO officials say they would see key signs well in advance if Russia were planning an assault or offensive outside of Ukraine. And they say Russia hasn’t made any such threat since its invasion in 2022.

“Full Measure with Sharyl Attkisson” airs at 10 a.m. Sunday, WJLA (Channel 7) and WBFF (Channel 45).